Developing an MND oral health care pathway and a dynamic toolkit

运动神经元疾病（MND）是一种罕见的缩短寿命的疾病，它影响大脑和脊髓中控制肌肉运动的运动神经元。它影响成年人，特别是55-79岁的人，但不影响儿童。随着来自大脑的信息逐渐停止到达肌肉，MND患者无法正常移动，肌肉变得虚弱和变小，导致日常生活中的困难，包括移动手和手臂，行走，说话，进食，饮水和呼吸等，这些都迅速恶化。目前，没有治愈MND的方法，多学科医疗团队专注于保持最佳的生活质量和心理健康。口腔健康通过影响口腔功能和社会交往与整体健康和生活质量密切相关。随着复杂的肌肉弱化，口腔保健对MND患者，护理人员和牙科专业人员来说是一个挑战，但没有明确的途径或工具包。因此，本申请旨在开发MND口腔保健途径和工具包，提供1）MND患者，护理人员和牙科专业人员的资源，以更好地了解与MND相关的挑战，2）支持自我护理和护理人员的指导，以保持MND患者的良好口腔健康，3）通过自我转诊过程获得牙科护理的途径，以获得专科牙科服务。开发的MND口腔保健途径和工具包将提供目前不可用的全面解决方案。它们将影响政策和实践，不仅在英国而且在世界范围内对MND社区有益，促进MND患者更好的口腔健康和生活质量。

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a rare life-shortening disease that affects motor neurones in the brain and spinal cord which control muscle movement. It affects adults especially those aged 55-79 years but not children. As messages from the brain gradually stop reaching muscles, MND patients cannot move properly, muscles become weak and get smaller causing difficulties in day-to-day life including moving hands and arms, walking, talking, eating, drinking and breathing etc which worsen rapidly. Currently, there is no cure for MND and the multi-disciplinary healthcare team focuses on maintaining the best quality of life and mental health. Oral health is closely related to general health and quality of life through affecting oral functions and social interactions. With complex muscle weakening, oral health care is challenging for MND patients, carers and dental professionals but there is no clear pathway or toolkit. Therefore, this application aims to develop an MND oral health care pathway and toolkit providing 1) resources for MND patients, carers and dental professionals to better understand the challenges associated with MND, 2) guidance supporting self-care and carers to maintain good oral health for MND patients, 3) pathway to access dental care with a self-referral process for specialist dental service. The MND oral health care pathway and toolkit developed will provide comprehensive solutions that are not currently available. They will influence policy and practices and are beneficial for the MND community not only in the UK but also worldwide, promoting better oral health and quality of life for MND patients.